AndySowards.com :: Web Design, Development, Programminghttp://www.andysowards.com/blog You Subscribed to the right place! You will be fed daily some of the best of the Web Design and Development world. You will find Tips, Tricks and Tutorials here for the best Design, Development, and Programming on the web!Tue, 03 Mar 2015 01:14:24 +0000en-UShourly1andysowardshttps://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with Attensa for OutlookSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with FlurrySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily RotationI appreciate the support! Thanks for subscribing! Please comment on the posts and share if you enjoy them and feel free to contact me anytime!How to Create a Top Design Brief for Your Mobile Apphttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/andysowards/~3/Uscsx4G4hGk/ http://www.andysowards.com/blog/2015/how-to-create-a-top-design-brief-for-your-mobile-app/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 03:45:08 +0000http://www.andysowards.com/blog/?p=22608

Tweet One of the most essential tasks a design company may be charged with is helping clients to develop the perfect design brief. For an agency that specialises in mobile applications, the virtually ubiquitous tool of modern business; working through

One of the most essential tasks a design company may be charged with is helping clients to develop the perfect design brief. For an agency that specialises in mobile applications, the virtually ubiquitous tool of modern business; working through a number of checkpoints will ensure that you arrive at the ideal solution for the customer.

Start with a definition

What is a mobile app? What does it do? What is the specific purpose of this particular app? Asking these questions will help to form the skeleton of the plan that will give structure to the finished brief. If this app is similar to any that already exist, understanding what unique features it has will enable you to present them in such a way as to make it an attractive prospect in a competitive market.

Focus on the target audience

It’s vital that you thoroughly investigate the range of users likely to buy the product; having determined the integral functions of the app, you must think about who will use it and what your audience values in relation to consumer goods. As well as the age range and likely profession of the end user, it is important to identify which apps they like to use, how comfortable they are with different aspects of technology and what problems they tend to report. A combination of the definition of the app and the needs of the user will allow you to pinpoint the essence of the product.

Decide on a platform

Some clients may want to release a mobile app on both Android and iOS simultaneously, which isn’t always a good idea. Your product function assessment may point towards a greater suitability to one platform, or you may have research that suggests the demographic leans more towards one or the other. If this isn’t the case, however, it is still better to release the app on one platform first because so much can be learnt from the first stage of a two-step release, allowing you to avoid certain pitfalls with the second platform.

Agree on the details

With a broad agreement on the essential functionality, you must be sure to outline every other aspect of the design. Palette, style, screen layout and the ‘feel’ of the app should be included. Does the client want it to have a retro air, referencing the 60s or 80s, for example, or do they want something more modern or even futuristic? Minutiae such as the amount and function of ‘buttons’ on the screen or the transitions can be represented by initial sketches to avoid misunderstandings.

Only when you are satisfied that your client has established all their requirements for the product will you be able to calculate both the cost and the likely timetable. Set up a two-way system of communication between yourself and the client so any concerns that arise can be addressed swiftly. A digital agency acts like an interpreter, taking the customer’s needs and translating them into a design brief that technicians can use to realise the client’s dream. The process starts with effective listening and that should continue to ensure customer satisfaction; do this and they’ll bring their business to you, time and time again.

Tweet Convincing calls-to-action, great testimonials and catchy slogans may not be enough to speed up conversion if good design is missing from your landing page. The first thing that greets the eye of a visitor is the overall design of

Shopify’s landing page sports a simple design and a neat layout, which make it attractive. All the content- text and visual is cleanly spread on the page and there is zero clutter.The use of video and bulleted text on the page makes for a perfect combination that catches your attention as soon as you hit the landing page. All the important content is right there in front of you. No time wasting!

This allows users to know the benefits at a glance; also, you only need to fill up three fields at the bottom of the page to create your own store on the fly! You can do that on your mobile, tablet or desktop because the design is web responsive.

Basecamp has quite an interesting landing page. The colorful illustration of a man pointing to the form adds an element of humor to the page and also improves its engagement quotient. The pointing finger directs you straight to the form. This is very good use of illustration on landing pages.

This landing page is perfectly configured to persuade users to happily fill up the form. The freebie- 60 day unlimited-user free trial – is very impressive and encourages users to part with their email ID and name, and begin the trial.

The landing page of RightSignature is a fine example of a landing page that nicely presents the core essence of the business.

The neat layout, good balance between text and design and well placed endorsements from clients are the highlights of this landing page.

These assure users that they are on the right track if they pursue CTA, an easy-to-fill, simple form distinctively visible on the top right corner of the page.

Those new to the concept of digital documentation can view the image of the digitized document and understand what the page has to offer. The landing page design and its content are able to target a broad audience base without creating content clutter. Good achievement!

A white background, simple design and well – spaced text take you through the landing page without missing any important information.

A well-placed email field right in the middle of the page catches your attention the very moment you land on this page. A quick glance at the benefits and off you go to the freebie video guide on content marketing, if that area interests you or is your business domain.

Though the headline looks cluttered at first glance, spending a few seconds on it helps you understand the highlights of the product. It’s all about the benefits.

This landing page starts off with a good headline, which is followed by text that talks about the eBook’s highlights. Although this text borders on the explanative, its placement is perfect.

Also, the professionally designed eBook image on the right compliments the content well. The whole page has been evenly split between text (on left side) and fields, icons and images (on right side). So a balanced design overcomes the shortcomings of the long-form text.

The cool light blue color and the eBook in the white cloud clearly reflect the business’s essence, which is SaaS based (cloud computing). Here, visual content does the talking and the bulleted salient features of the eBook convince visitors to fill the field on the left and download the free eBook gift.

Good use of color and the cloud effect urges visitors to share their details in return for a freebie.

This page has excellent execution of all the lead generation best practices that make for an optimized landing page.

The dominant headline in the separate header box on top of the landing page sends out a loud and clear message to the readers.

The secondary headline compliments it well because it is from a trusted source; an authentic promise about what the eBook offers readers.

As you move down, you can click a video and watch what the presenter has to say to you. A face-to-face communication improves the credibility of the landing page. If that doesn’t make you want to download the eBook, there are bulleted points further down that try and convince you the eBook is just what you need. This landing page, answers the “what’s in it for me” perfectly and will definitely pull you towards the forms in the right upper corner.

Take five –steps and hit the “get it now” button and enjoy a free eBook.

Ring is a doorbell with an in-built video camera with features likes motion detector and connection with your mobile phone so that you can detect any motion on your property.

The landing page nicely explains the product and the content is evenly spread across the page; you face absolutely no problems in understanding product functionality. The design is eye-catching, images impress against the white background and the readability factor is high. So, you will not miss the content even if you are in a hurry.

Squarespace helps small businesses and individuals go online by setting up their own websites, without the need of complex and time-consuming coding.

A big headline, dominating background image depicting a website (online business) sends out the core message quickly and with the necessary impact. Here, simplicity in design makes the page more attractive.

Tweet The rise and fall of technology trends can have a direct influence on businesses, but some changes tend to directly effect the way business websites should be designed and operated. One such trend is the ever-increasing size of mobile

The rise and fall of technology trends can have a direct influence on businesses, but some changes tend to directly effect the way business websites should be designed and operated. One such trend is the ever-increasing size of mobile phones. The move from small screens to large phablets means that as a web developer you need to adjust your sites to fit these different-sized devices and your customers’s needs to boost your business.

Buy, Buy, Buy

Econsultancy analyzed its website traffic stats according to the size of screen its visitors were using. They found that the bigger the screen someone used, the more money that person typically spent on services. While they mostly reviewed the screen size of desktop computers, the findings are still interesting. It’s not definitive why a larger screen might influence someone to make a bigger purchase, but it could be that people want to see what they’re buying. A larger screen affords the viewer a clearer picture of the product and provides more readable text.

If your buyers are viewing your website from their smartphones, they may still make a purchase. But, if it’s true that larger screens can promote further spending, wouldn’t marketers be wise to target consumers with larger phones like the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus? And, shouldn’t web developers use this information when building a site for a client?

More Mobility

You’re spending more time playing mobile games than ever before

One of the drawbacks experienced when browsing or buying through a smartphone is the inability to see everything on the page at once. The need to scroll or click more can (in the best of circumstances) dissuade prospects from finishing a sale, or (in the worst scenario) annoy prospects enough to make them never come back. Consumers may take their frustration and subpar experience out on your business.

However, with larger screens like the ones found on the iPhone 6+ or the Galaxy Note, some of this dissatisfaction can be abated. By being able to see more on the screen, visitors can click and scroll less, and they often get where they want to be faster and with less aggravation. So, as the web developer, you need to design your business sites with these common problems and screen sizes in mind. Customers will continue to buy products on their phones and might go to a business with a more optimized site if yours does not suit their needs.

Expectations of Responsiveness

10 Web design trends you can expect to see in 2015

People continue to raise their expectations the more that technology caters to them. Most websites are already built with responsive design, but now there’s also a concept called responsive philosophy that is picking up steam. The idea is that each website should respond to the screen upon which it’s displayed and also should tailor its content based on the visitor’s location and preferences. You also might want to add a call-to-action that can be acted upon instantly if a buyer is in a certain area. Or, offer a discount if the phone recognizes that your customer is in your immediate location. These types of responsive (and preemptive) functions can increase a website’s functionality and your business’s sales.

So, as mobile screens continue to get bigger, business owners, consumers and web developers all stand to benefit. The screens promise more opportunities for marketing tactics by businesses, less aggravation to buyers and more work for web developers. Sounds like a win–win–win.

Tweet Joomla is an open source content management system (CMS) that can be used to build out almost any kind of website. The only limits on how to use it are the limits of your imagination. Joomla evolved out of

Joomla is an open source content management system (CMS) that can be used to build out almost any kind of website. The only limits on how to use it are the limits of your imagination. Joomla evolved out of the Mambo CMS, and over time, much like WordPress, it has built up its own large audience of fiercely passionate and intensely loyal users.

The CMS offers both developers and users an abundance of information on what it can do, as well as provides them with copious resources on how to customize, test and tweak it to suit the needs of their project.

Getting Started

Joomla 3 Video Tutorials – Getting Started

There are plenty of resources both official and unofficial developed by the Joomla community. However, before you venture out too far and get lost in the overwhelming amount of information on Joomla posted on technical blogs, a good place to start is the office resource website. This is friendly, easy-to-understand, and offers the new users some invaluable tips on how to navigate around the Joomla environment.

Joomla Home

This is where you can find out more about Joomla and also where you can download the CMS files.

Joomla Documentation

This offers a lot of useful information that you can bookmark for further reference. It offers developers and users a plethora of tips, tricks, and techniques that will help power up a stunning website.

Joomla Community Magazine

This is another resource for developers and users. It basically offers information on the most current innovations. While Joomla documentation is a collection of proven technical information, Joomla magazine explores what else is possible. It provides current news and information.

Joomla Team Blogs

There are active groups within Joomla’s community, and each has its own blog to share its ideas and discoveries with the community.

Joomla Forums

This is a guide for the perplexed. It’s a place where seasoned Joomla veterans can share war stories with each other as well as dispense invaluable advice with new users. Like most other CMS forums, it’s a place where community members answer a variety of questions from new users. It’s a good place to go when you’re stuck, when you’re trying find resources, or when you’re trying to decipher some technical information.

Nuts And Bolts

10 Joomla extension modules for easier and better websites

Those looking to work with Joomla can also find more information about it through tutorials, templates, and Joomla web hosts. It is here that new users can find out more about out-of-the-box functionality like extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons, as well as some inspirational examples of what can be done with Joomla.

Tutorials

Joomla 3 Tutorials

The best way to learn a CMS is by going through the tutorials on it. These serve to show new users where to find various features and how to turn on the lights. The tutorials are organized, brief, and clear. They make it easy to figure things out.

Templates

With thousands of templates available, it doesn’t make much sense to code your own website. Templates make it easy for anyone to get up and running fast. Besides free templates, there are premium theme membership clubs to get customized, robust themes.

What’s the Best CMS?

WordPress, Joomla and Drupal are NOT the Best CMS

Although the question sounds legitimate enough, it’s rather like asking whether the weather is better in California or Florida. There is no one right answer. It depends on the person using a content management system and the nature of their projects. All the most popular content management systems have a large, active community for good reasons.

Tuts +s offers the following comparison between Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress:

“Joomla is a very advanced CMS in terms of functionality. That said, getting started with Joomla is fairly easy, thanks to Joomla’s installer….Joomla is very similar to Drupal in that it’s a complete CMS, and might be a bit much for a simple portfolio site….The Joomla site hosts more than 3,200 extensions, so you know the developer community behind the popular CMS is alive and kicking. Like WordPress, you can add just about any needed functionality with an extension.”

Arvixe goes on to describe Joomla as “an award-winning content management system (CMS), which enables you to build websites and powerful online applications.”

So, yes, Joomla stacks up favorably against the best CMS platforms.

Sometimes, however, the best way to decide whether or not a CMS is for you is to look at some examples. The Joomla Community Magazine offers a top ten list of websites that are built on the Joomla platform.

Should You Try Joomla?

5 Reasons Why Joomla is the Best CMS the World Has Ever Known! (Lol – see, not everyone is a fan, but you be the judge)

There are numerous reasons why you could be delighted with Joomla, and the only way to find out if this CMS will support your business goals or that of your clients is to try it out. Millions of people use Joomla for their websites because it provides them with their aesthetics, functionality, and ease-of-use that suits their needs. Although, everyone is different, use what best fits you – if its joomla, great! If its something else, you do what you do best.

Tweet Having an effective website is critical for any small business — it is often the first experience a potential customer has with you and your brand. Yet many small businesses still pay little attention to the design and creation

Having an effective website is critical for any small business — it is often the first experience a potential customer has with you and your brand. Yet many small businesses still pay little attention to the design and creation of their online presence. While you don’t need to know how to build a site, as the owner, you need to weigh in on the content, navigation of information, web page design and the customer sales path.

Whether you are building a website from scratch, or need to revamp your existing site, there are five keys to building a high-performing website for your small business. How you want to approach each will help you create a strong brief for the web designer — which will result in a better website.

1. Determine the Point of Your Website

Finding your site’s true purpose: A guide to goal-focused marketing

Building a website just because you have to will not lead to having the best website for your business. You need to know what you want the site to do for you. What is the value it will bring to your business? Think it through and make some notes about what you really want your website to accomplish.

For example, will it simply be a point of contact for potential customers? Will it serve as a digital showcase for your products? Will you sell those products from the site? Do you want it to generate enquiries? Perhaps it will be a space for you to assert your authority within your industry. Maybe you have some administrative needs, like automating sales, transactions or customer communications. It may even provide income from ads or affiliate referrals. Be clear about what purpose your website will serve, both to your business and your customers.

2. Decide on Whether a Template Is Sufficient or You Need Custom Web Design

The 42 best free WordPress themes

There are some beautiful templates available, and using them can drastically reduce your development costs. They are easy to install and update by yourself and your team. But if you need a unique look, a custom designed and developed site may be the way to go.

Choosing to use an off-the-shelf template or theme is an affordable option, which makes them popular with budget-strapped start-ups and small businesses. They can also be sufficient for brands that need a simple site, and are a flexible starting point for business owners who possess some technical skills. However, these sites usually come with limited functionality and can be time consuming and tricky to modify if you don’t have a great deal of technical knowledge. They can also look generic and like many other sites.

Having a custom website designed has the advantage of letting you define almost every aspect of how your site looks and functions. The downside is the web page design and development costs are higher, they take longer for the initial build, and you will likely need to go back to your developer for any future edits or upgrades. So why do it? Because your site will be unique to you, and that may be an important component of your brand strategy.

3. Determine Who Will Create Your Website Content

6 Timeless Tips for Writing Great Web Content

Many small businesses on the look of the site, but don’t pay much attention to the content. This is a mistake. Content is critical, and it’s the thing that can slow down a web development processes. The look may attract people to your site, but the content will be the basis upon which they decide to buy from you… or not. You need carefully crafted content for each product or service offering in your company. Whether your write it yourself or hire a web copywriter, be prepared to spend time on your content. You know you business best and you will need to carve out time to make sure the web content accurately reflects both key information and the general spirit of your brand.

4. Decide on the Nature, Amount, and Organization of Content

10 WRITING TIPS FOR WEB DESIGNERS

Whether your site is an ecommerce platform selling multiple products or a showcase website to feature your services, it is important to organize your content into logical categories or sections that allow visitors to easily find what they are looking for.

In addition to well-written content that gives your customers a complete picture of who you are and what the purpose of your site is, clear navigation will help them find the information they need.

The rule is to never make users work hard to find what they want. Clear navigation helps make it easier for users to find what they’re after. Navigation along the top and down the left hand side of your site, for example, allows for intuitive browsing and makes it easy for your visitors to make a purchase or complete another desirable action.

A good way to determine the nature and amount of content you want is to study other websites—your competitors and just sites you like to visit. How are they doing it? What works and what doesn’t?

5. Choose Who Will Maintain the Website

Website Maintenance Tips for Front-End Developers

Unlike a print brochure, a website needs to be constantly maintained. From content updates, such as loading new products, to system upgrades, there will always be some degree of tweaking going on with your site. In addition, search engines will rank your site higher if you regularly update the content.

Deciding who will be responsible for editing, adding to, and maintaining your web page design is an important choice. It could be you, an in-house staff member, a freelancer, or you could pay your web designer to do it. Magicdust is one of such web designers Sydney has to offer. The important thing is to create a plan that will ensure no area gets overlooked and your site stays fresh and appealing.

Paying attention to these five key aspects of your web page design will ensure you build a powerful site that performs for you for the long term.